The Commission on Elections (Comelec) official clarified that a disqualified candidate could be replaced before the election.
This was explained by Comelec Senior Commissioner Rowena Guanzon in connection with the Comelec Second Division’s rejection of the petition to cancel the certificate of candidacy (COC) of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for Election 2022 for lack of merit.
“Yung petitioners, ayon sa Second Division resolution, nagkamali po sila dahil dapat yung ground lamang nila sa cancellation isa lang, that Marcos made a false representation sa COC kung kaya dapat ikansela ang kanyang COC,” said Guanzon in a Facebook Live.
The rejected petition is just one of the petitions filed against Marcos’ candidacy.
In fact, there is a pending disqualification case against Marcos in the Comelec First Division, of which Guanzon is a member, along with Commissioners Marlon Casquejo and Aimee Ferolino-Ampoloquio.
According to Guanzon, the cancellation case is different from the disqualification case. In the disqualification case, the disqualified candidate can be replaced.
But what needs to replace him is his last name and party mate.
Disqualified candidate can be replaced— Comelec official
“Anong resulta kapag nakansela ang COC? Ibig sabihin sa simula pa lang dapat invalid or void ang kanyang COC, ibig sabihin parang wala siyang na-file na COC. Ang ibig sabihin po ng cancellation ang resulta po niyan hindi po siya puwedeng makapag-substitute,” said Guanzon.
“Ano po ang kaibahan niyan sa doon po sa disqualification na hawak namin? Ang resulta po ‘pag siya ay na-disqualified ay puwede siyang mag-substitute basta kapartido niya at magkapareho ng apelyido. Hindi po kailangang magkamag-anak sila basta magkaapilyedo po sila at pareho sila ng political party,” she added.
Guanzon also said the replacement of the disqualified candidate could be made “before noon of Election Day.”
Guanzon also announced that the decision of the Comelec Division could be appealed to the Comelec En Banc and to the Supreme Court, which has the final decision on the petition under discussion.
“Puwede pa pong umapela ang mga natalo sa aming Commission En Banc. Mula po sa Commission En Banc ang partido na hindi sang-ayon sa aming desisyon ay maaring umakyat po sa Korte Suprema doon po talaga ang final na desisyon sa mga issue na ito,” said Guanzon.
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